ZALLHERR, ALBANIA - The morning sun had just cleared the mountain
range when the line began to form. Village children lined up to receive
something very special. From the expectant looks on their faces you
would have thought it was a candy or a toy; instead it was a vaccination.
New Jersey Army National Guard Medics brought 500 doses of Hepatitis
A to vaccinate the local girls and boys.

“It is always great to take care of kids,” said Capt.
Paul Villalon. “When you treat a child you make his life better
now and in adulthood.” The mission was conducted from a small
community clinic in Zallherr. Parents and children jammed into the tiny
hallway and waiting room but this enthusiasm evaporated when they got
into the chair.

Normal childhood instinct took over and panic set in. The Soldiers
did their best to calm them and reward them with the standard American
after-shot treatment – a lollipop. “It was a great team
effort,” remarked Villalon. The medics exhausted their 500 doses
in approximately three and a half hours.

In addition to the humanitarian mission, the medics supported the
2-113th Infantry during their mission. The medics saw some of the usual
annual training injuries like sprains or eye abrasions and saw unusual
ones like trench foot, on one Albania Soldier. The collection of volunteers
assembled by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Cosmanic, State Combat Medic, was
chosen on very specific criteria: “The medics here are the ones
I would want to work on me,” said Cosmanic.

“Much of this work was not training, it’s doing the real
thing…when we treated a patient we affected his life.” During
that same period, an Air Guard team led by Lt. Col. Frank Casty of the
108th Medical Group with Maj. Eric Erickson, 177th Medical Group and
Senior Airman Erin Fassold, 177th Logistics Readiness Squadron, taught
Rapid Reaction Brigade doctors, dentists, medics and nurses U.S.and
NATO compatible training.